Self-laying endless track for vehicles.



W: G. NOAUK.

. SELF LAYING ENDLESS TRACK FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED AU G.1, 1910,

Patented Jan. 16, 1912.

Tocll whom it may concern:

WALTER e. NoAoK, or ELMHURST, onmnomim, ASSIGNOR or one-HALF To WILLIAM A. SAGE, E HALNFORD, CALIFORNIA.

SELF-LAYING ENDLESS TRACK FOR VEHICLES.

Speeificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 116, 912.

Application filed August 1,1910. 'jserial No. 575,044.

.Be it known that I, WALTER G. NOACK, citizen of the United States, residlng at Elmhurst, in the county of Alameda and State (if-California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Laying Endless Tracks for Vehicles, of which the following is a specificationQ This invention relates to platform wheels of the flexible endless belt type for traction engines and other heavy vehicles.

The object ofthis invention is to provide a flexible, traveling platform or traction member for heavy vehicles so that they can beoperated with success" over soft and un-- even ground, and over country where there: are no roads; and especially to provide an endless, flexible track of peculiar design and construction whereby the several links or sections of the track will present a substantially rigid interlocked body when in 'a' horizontal plane with the links forming a continuous broad bearing surface whichwill not bend inwardly, but which can readily pivot outward in passing around the end sprockets'or pulleys. .The invention consists, of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of the invention. 'Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a link showing a slight modification.

Fig.4: is a plan view of the same. Fig. 5.

is a cross-section of a link. In the illustrated embodiment of this invention, the platform is made up of a p111- rality of complementary links 2, having each.

a substantially flat, transverse, tread portion 3 and vsquared ends 3, the several links being pivoted together at their'ends by a strong bolt or pin 4., the center of which is substantially in the plane of the adjacent end faces of two-abutting links. Each link i is substantially T-sh'aped in cross-section,

as shown in Fig. 5.

The assembled platform or belt of pivoted links is adapted to travel around suitable,-

adjustable sprocket wheels 5, appropriately I mounted upon the frame B of the vehicle.

Between the sprocket wheels 5 are one or more pairs of large guide and supporting wheels 6, journaled also in frame B and back of the several links as the latter pass above and below the wheels 6.

The traveling belt or platform is of such length as to afford the desired horizontal bearing or tread surface between the pairs of arge supporting wheels 6;. and in order to prevent this horizontal loadbearing or supporting the weight on the ground-run ofground-run portion, which is in contact with the ground, from flexing inwardly or caving upwardly, each of the links is formed adjacent to, and on the inner side of, the pivots 4, with overlapping lugs 8 and 9. Each lug 8 has a laterally projecting stop 10 which en gages the lug 9 on an adjacent link as soon as the treads 3, of the links 2 assume a horizontal position in the same plane. The lugs 9 and stops 10 are ontheopposite side of pivot 4 from the tread surface 3, and the lugs 8-9 cross each other shears-fashion, so that the stops 10 and lugs 9 may supplement the abutment provided by the vertical end walls of the links outside the pivot pins 4 and re move strain from the pivot pins. This is important. Thus, when the flexible platform has passed under the forward guide Wheel 6, and rests upon the ground surface, the links 2 are prevented, by the engagement of the lugs 9 and stops 10, from flexing inwardly; the abutting. surfaces of a lug 9.

and stop 10 being in a plane substantially the same asthe abutting end planes of their links. As the flexible bearing platform travels around the end sprockets and pulleys, or makes any convex turn, the lugs 9 and stops 10 will disengage and open just as the links rock relatively upon their pivots 4 in passing around a curved surface, but will again close upon oneanother as soon as any portion of the belt becomes alined in one continuous plane. The particular advantages in'this form of interlocking linksqare (1st) to prevent the inward buckling of any portion. of the traction platform as it rests upon'the ground, thus making a temporarily solid and rigid track of that portion of the belt upon which the load is resting; and (2nd) to'take the strain off the pivot pins4.

and reduce-the shearing effect otherwise 00- "curring where temporary rigidity against inward bending is sought The wheels 6 are arranged in pairs and suitably spaced to accommodate the overlapping lugs 8-4) and central web 11 of the links, and likewise the sprockets and. pulleys 5 are The flange sections 7 travel under and .support the wheels 6 and load, track-fashion.

As shown in Fig. 3 each link at one end has the lateral bosses 12 which are engaged by the sprockets (see Fig. 1) and the bosses are split as shown at 13 to accommodate the which hold the pivot pins in the ends of-the bosses or hubs l2. I

Having-thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1.- A pair of links, shapedin cross-section, of each T forming a tread, the web 0 divided centrally for'the same purpose.-

flat tread member,

"Witnesses."

each substantially T- the'horizontalfpart the two Ts pivoted together and abutting end-' wise, and the webs of the two links having overlapping lugs and stops on the side of the pivot opposite said treads.

2; A link for a platform wheel having a a longitudinal central web, tracks on the back of the tread and on each sideof the web, the web perforated atthe ends for a pivot bolt and lateral hollow hub bosses at one end surrounding one perforation and through which a pivot pin may pass and said bosses divided so as to accommodate and protect thecotters.

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in thepresence of twosubscribing v WALTER G. NOACK.

'Witnessesz. a

WILLIAM A. HUSSEY, MICHAEL J; RoAoHp 

